Letter to the Editor: Sad last pilgrimage to Mount Melleray

Last Saturday, my wife Helena and myself set off on a day trip to Mount Melleray Abbey in County Waterford.

It was with a heavy heart we made this journey, as this was the last weekend it would be opened to the public - it is closing on January 26, after 190 years.

The Cistercian monks based there are now all moving to Roscrea, County Tipperary, pending future decisions with the Abbey.

We had brought our children there over the years, and also our grandchildren to visit and experience the spiritual and beautiful Mount Melleray, especially leading up to First Communion and Confirmation times, to buy them something special for these most important days in their lives.

We met people from far and wide there on Saturday, all in shock over the pending closure, all asking the same question, why?

We swapped stories of our previous trips there, and how serene and peaceful everyone found it. How we would all miss it so much, but all agreed we would never forget it and the part it had played in all our lives in some shape or form.

We said some prayers in the chapel, and lit some candles as we always do for family members and friends that have gone to their eternal rest.

Finally, we went to the abbey shop to buy some holy relics to remember our final day in Mount Melleray.

We had a last look at the goldfish in the fountain pond before saying our sad final farewell to this piece of Irish history.

Times are changing. On reflection of the day while driving back home, a song came to mind, ‘How can I protect you in this crazy world’, it says it all.

William Walsh, Fairhill, Cork